Madson knocked down Pence with a 97 mph fastball on an 0-2 pitch before
freezing him with another 97 mph heater.

Brad Lidge(notes) was warming up in the bullpen, ready to get another chance after
picking up his 11th blown save last week at Florida. But Madson needed just nine
pitches to finish the eighth so Manuel sent him out there for another inning.

If there’s a save situation Wednesday night, Lidge may be out there.

“Lidge pitches better at home than he does on the road and he matches up
good against (Houston’s) right-handers,” Manuel said.

Kaz Matsui and Lance Berkman(notes) homered for the Astros, who won the first five
meetings between the teams.

Wilton Lopez(notes) (0-1) allowed five runs and six hits in 3 2-3 innings in his
first career start. Lopez had made six relief appearances.

“He left the ball up and we know if you hit the ball good in this ballpark,
it can go a long way,” Astros interim manager Dave Clark said.

Feliz put the Phillies ahead 5-1 in the fourth when he connected off Lopez
for his seventh career slam. Ryan Howard(notes) started the inning with an infield hit
and Raul Ibanez(notes) followed with a single. After Werth walked to load the bases,
Feliz drove the next pitch to the seats in left for his 12th homer.

The Phillies can wrap up the division Wednesday night with Pedro Martinez(notes) on
the mound. If so, many starters can get some much-needed rest.

“That’s the light at the end of the tunnel,” Howard said. “Rest is always
good.”

Lee’s broken-bat single plated a run in the fifth to cut it to 5-2. The
Astros just missed tying the game when the next batter, Pence, flied out to deep
center with two runners on. Happ fanned Keppinger to end the inning.

“I felt a lot better than the results,” Happ said. “It was a battle all
night.”

Werth went deep off Wesley Wright(notes) to give the Phillies a 7-2 lead in the
fifth. Werth, an All-Star outfielder, has 35 homers and 96 RBIs in his first
season as a full-time starter.

Matsui hit a two-run shot in the sixth to cut it to 7-4.

After Berkman put the Astros ahead 1-0 in the third inning with his 25th
homer, the Phillies tied it in the bottom half on Jimmy Rollins’(notes) RBI double.

NOTES: Cliff Lee’s(notes) start was pushed back to Thursday and Martinez was moved
up one day. Martinez (5-1) missed his previous start with neck stiffness. The
move also puts Lee in position to pitch Game 1 of the NL division series. …
Phillies C Carlos Ruiz(notes) was a late scratch. He’s been bothered by a wrist injury.
… Feliz has two grand slams this year. It extended the Phillies’ franchise
record for slams in a season to 11. … Astros SS Miguel Tejada(notes) extended his
hitting streak to 16 games. … Houston RHP Chad Paronto(notes) left after injuring his
left hamstring on a pitch to Howard in the seventh.